Dr. Helen BarrettDr. Eileen BrennanAAEEBL ConferenceJuly 25, 2011

electronicportfolios.org/slideshare.net/eportfolios/

Hashtag: #eportfoliosAccount: @eportfolios

Digital Stories of Deep Learning: Add Voice and Higher Order Thinking to ePortfolios with Digital Storytelling

Examples of digital stories can be found at:

Dr. Barrett’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/eportfolios

• Choiceshttp://youtu.be/CHMUwdUCXiM

• Tori’s 2nd Grade Autobiographyhttp://youtu.be/tyTi_2ZR2L4

• Chevakhttp://youtu.be/oKV4mM2gBjM

• Coming Full Circlehttp://youtu.be/UaL9PV04dlk

Outline of Presentation

• What? – Definition of Digital Storytelling in E-Portfolios (including

examples)• Why?

– The Power of Reflection through Digital Storytelling in E-Portfolios

• How? – Software & tools to create digital stories– Sequence of activities to construct a digital story

http://sites.google.com/site/digitalstorysite/ http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/

Agenda

1. Introductions & Needs Assessment - I statements2. What do we mean by Digital Storytelling? Multiple Purposes

for DS in EP - show several examples– Voice and Visualization = Authenticity– Let's Build a Digital Story-script, images & Story Robe (iOS)

3. Why? What do we mean by Deep Learning?– Bloom's (Original and Revised)– Digital Identity and Voice - communication & literacy (Bass & Enyon)– dialogue about theory with examples (one each from higher ed and

K-12)

4. How? Developing a group digital story using mobile tools around developing voice and visualization

Portfolio as Story"A portfolio tells a story. It is the story of knowing. Knowing about things... Knowing oneself... Knowing an audience... Portfolios are students' own stories of what they know, why they believe they know it, and why others should be of the same opinion.” (Paulson & Paulson, 1991, p.2)

Roger Schank, Tell Me a Story

“Telling stories and listening to other people's stories shape the memories

we have of our experiences.”

Stories help us organize our experience and define our sense of ourselves.

Portfolios can help learners find their Voice…

and explore their Purpose and Passions through

Choice!

Why Digital Stories in E-Portfolios?

• Reflection is the “heart and soul” of portfolios• Digital Stories can humanize

any model of ePortfolio• Digital Stories add VOICE

A Dozen Purposes for Digital Storytelling in ePortfolios

• Introduction of Self– Voice & Personality– Legacy– Biography– Memoir

• Reflection– Transition– Decision & Direction– Benchmarking Development– Change over Time

• Rich Multimedia Artifacts– Evidence of

Collaboration– Documentary– Record of Experience– Oral Language

Development

Voice & Personality

• Voice is often missing from electronic portfolios, both literally and rhetorically.

• A digital story provides that voice: listening to the author, we hear a real person, getting a sense of their unique personality.

• For young children, do an interview!

THE IMPORTANCE OF VOICE

“When words are infused by the human voice, they come alive.”

- Maya Angelou

Individual IdentityReflection Meaning MakingNew Literacy

Voice6+1 Trait® Definition

Voice is the writer coming through the words, the sense that a real person is speaking to us and cares about the message. It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic, the wit, the feeling, the life and breath. When the writer is engaged personally with the topic, he/she imparts a personal tone and flavor to the piece that is unmistakably his/hers alone. And it is that individual something–different from the mark of all other writers–that we call Voice.

http://educationnorthwest.org/resource/503#Voice

Legacy

• Digital stories can provide us with an opportunity to leave a legacy of our family stories for those who come after us.

• Legacy stories are usually told about a person or place.

Samantha’s Story

Biography

• A biography provides the facts about a life, whether of the storyteller or another person.

Victoria’s 2nd Grade Autobiography

Victoria’s 2nd Grade Autobiography

Tori – 2nd Grade

Memoir

• Whereas a legacy story is told for or about another person or place, a memoir is very personal, told in the first person, focusing on the memories of the storyteller.

• Memoirs are autobiographical in nature, but are much more personal and reflective.

• They are often much longer than a typical digital story.

Reflection - Transition

• Some learners reflect on the major changes or transitions in their lives.

• Reflection can help us make sense of these changes.

• Telling digital stories could also help the transition to retirement or any other major life change.Coming Full Circle (link from web page)

Norm Sutaria

Deana

Reflection - Decision

• Digital stories can be used to either weigh the options in a decision to be made

• or document the process used to make decisions.

Choices (embedded on web page)

Reflection – Retrospective“Good Moring Sunshines”

Erin, CDS, August 2009http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ObJ0iUdLR4

Benchmarking Development

• at each point (of development) a digital story snapshot would be an extremely appropriate part of a portfolio • Sebastian

Change over time

• Maintain a collection of work over time • Recognize when growth and change has

occurred• Reflect on the changes they see in their

own performance• Process has the potential to increase

students’ self esteem.

Tori – 6th grade poem

Evidence of Collaboration

• Much of the work in both schools and the workplace is the result of collaboration• a digital story could provide

explanation of the process.

Documentary

• A digital video can take the place of a research paper or a PowerPoint presentation.

• Story takes on characteristics of a documentary, often fact-based without emotional content.

What is Digital Storytelling?(link from web page)

What is Digital Storytelling

Record of Experience

• Often no concrete product that can be represented in a discrete artifact.

• could be used to reflect on and document an experience

• could provide the final evidence of a project-based learning activity

Chevak (link from web page)

Chevak

Oral Language

• learning to speak in a second language• early childhood students learning to read in

their native language• learners record their voice, speaking or reading

out loud at different stages of development• demonstrating growth over time. • "podcast" could be an audio-only digital story

without the visual component

Rich Digital Artifacts

• Showcase student work with explanatory narrative

Naya’s Portfolio

Naya, Anchorage School District, May 2000

WHY?Discussion of Deep Learning from the Digital

Storytelling ProcessBloom’s Taxonomy-Updated (Churches &

Bass & Enyon

Bloom’s Cognition:Higher Order Thinking

DIGITAL BLOOM

Visual: Student Voice

http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/theorizing-through-digital-stories

Visual: Teacher Observation

http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/theorizing-through-digital-stories

Visual and Voice:Melding Identity and American History

“The old family photos are beautiful,” she writes. “They make me want to learn about my history.…”

http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/theorizing-through-digital-stories

Visual and Voice: Communicates feeling of violation

http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/theorizing-through-digital-stories

References

• Kathy Schrock’s Bloomin’ iPadhttp://kathyschrock.net/ipadblooms/

• Link to Andrew Churches' Bloom's Digital Taxonomy blog. Link to Leslie Owen Wilson's Bloom's Revised Taxonomy information

• Bass & Enyon’s Visible Knowledge Project

What Digital Story do you want to tell?

PurposeAudience

Discussion of Individual Needs

HOW?

Digital Storytelling Process

• Create a 2-to-4 minute digital video clip– First person narrative

[begins with a written script ~ 400 words]– Told in their own voice [record script]– Illustrated (mostly) by still images– Music track to add emotional tone

Elements of a Digital Story1. Overall Purpose of

the Story2. Narrator’s Point of

View- Emotional Content

3. A Dramatic Question (or Questions)

4. Choice of Content 5. Clarity of Voice

6. Pacing of the Narrative

7. Meaningful Soundtrack

8. Quality of the Images

9. Economy of the Story Detail

10. Good Grammar and Language Usage

HOW TO DEVELOP DIGITAL STORIES

Process and Tools

Write Script

Record Voice

Digitize/Collect Images

Edit Video Publish Share

Process to develop digital stories1. Script development: write the story, often

with a group called a story circle to provide feedback and story development ideas

2. Record the author reading the story (audio recording and editing)

3. Capture and process the images to further illustrate the story (image scanning and editing)

4. Combine audio and images (and any additional video) onto a timeline, add music track (video editing)

5. Present or publish finished version of story

Sample StoryboardScript/Sound Effect/Music

Image/Video

Mary had a little lamb•(Sound: birds singing, girl humming tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Drawing of Mary with her lamb in a field with flowers.

Whose fleece was white as snow•(Sound: girl continues to hum  Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Drawing of snowflake.

And everywhere that Mary went•(Sound: girl continues to hum  Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Drawing of Mary walking into the mall.

Sample Storyboard

Tools

Macintosh

• Write script: Word• Record Audio:

Audacity /GarageBand

• Edit images: iPhoto• Edit video: iMovie

Windows

• Write script: Word• Record Audio:

Audacity• Edit images: Picasa3 • Edit video:

MovieMaker2 or PhotoStory3

http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/tools.html

Web 2.0GoogleDocs

Myna (Aviary)

Aviary Tools

Animoto or VoiceThreadPreziScreenr.com

Video Editing on iOS

iMovie $4.99

ReelDirector $3.99

Splice $1.99 Free

Screenr.com

Wordle.netThis following Word Cloud was created collaboratively by educators around the world, who contributed keywords that came to their mind when thinking about Digital Storytelling. Words that appear larger were used by more contributors.http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/07/27/digital-storytelling-part-ix-wordle/

Convergence

Step 1: Decide on the Story You Want to Tell

Stories Created by Teachers Can Serve:• As a Lesson Hook• As a Way to Integrate Multimedia into the

Curriculum • As a Way to Make Difficult Content More

Understandable• To Facilitate Classroom Discussion

An Effective Learning Tool for Students

• Research Skills• Writing Skills• Organization

Skills• Technology Skills• Presentation

Skills

• Interview Skills• Interpersonal

Skills• Problem-

Solving Skills• Assessment

Skills

Step 2: Gather Your Materials

• Start gathering photos, digital video, flyers, mementos — anything that holds emotional resonance.

• Don't think you have to go out and visually capture a story with a camcorder or camera. Use what you have!

• Export Powerpoint slides to JPEG (Save As…)• Capture digital photos with any camera (including cell

phones)• Get permissions for using images of students OR learn

how to take anonymous photos (no faces)

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 3: Begin Writing Your Script• Play out a rough story in your head. • Sketch out a script that you'll soon record with

your own voice. People want to hear a personal voice.

• Get personal. • Write lousy first drafts. Don't edit as you go.• Write short. You'll be surprised at how much you

can convey with a few words and some key images.

• Read your script aloud as you're fine-tuning it. • Don't hold back. Be real.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Script writing (cont.)

• Look for a narrative arc for your story. All stories — even three-minute gems — have a beginning, middle, and end.

• Work on the pace. Many consider pacing to be the true secret of successful storytelling. The rhythm and tempo of a story is what sustains an audience's interest.

• Trust your voice. All of us have our own distinctive style of storytelling. Trust yours.

• Read your script to a friend when you think you've finished.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 4: Prep Your Equipment• A desktop computer or laptop. • Video software such as Apple iMovie, MovieMaker2 or

PhotoStory3.• A (desktop) scanner, if you want to include traditional

photos in your story. Additionally, if you plan to record interviews, you'll need: • A recording device: for video, a camcorder; for audio, a

portable digital recorder or an analog cassette recorder (if you use analog video or audio, you'll also need to convert it to digital).

• A handheld microphone for audio interviews.• Headphones.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 5: Create a Storyboard

• A storyboard is simply a place to plan out a visual story on two levels: 1) Time — What happens in what order? and 2) Interaction — How does the voiceover and music work with the images or video?

• A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 15 images and no more than two minutes of video.

• As a general rule, four to six seconds is the ideal time for an image to appear on-screen,

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 6: Record a Voice-Over

• On a computer* (use Audacity) - using external Microphone (record your voice-over at the same quality level that you record your musical soundtrack: 16-bit, 44 kHz.)

• On a digital tape recorder– Digital= Good Quality but Expensive– Analog= Lower Quality but Cheap

• Transfer into computer– Digital = file– Analog = cable+software

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Speak slowly in a conversational voice. Don't make it sound like you're reading from a script.

Record Voice Narration• Use a microphone and

transfer your audio clips to your computer.

Easi-Speak

How? Recording Digital Audio

• On a computer*• On a digital tape recorder• On an iPod Touch, iPad,

iPhone with microphone

* Requires software

On a Computer

• Software: Audacity (free)

• Recommend using external Microphone

• Need a Computer (less portability)

Samson USB Mic

Audio Editing Software

• Audacity (free download)

• Audacity Tutorial• Garage Band

•DEMO

On a Digital Recorder

• Portable• Digital= Good Quality but

Expensive• Analog= Lower Quality but

Cheap• Transfer into computer– Digital = file– Analog = cable+software

Step 7: Digitize Your Media

• If you're using photos, you'll need a flatbed scanner. Scan them and save them to a single folder on your computer. (200 dots per inch)

• If you're using digital photos, make sure they're in JPEG format.

• Keep in mind that your video will be horizontal in form, so crop accordingly. Don't distort vertical photos into horizontal ones, but realize that strong vertical shapes will appear with lots of black on both sides.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Sources of Creative Commons Images

• Flickr Creative Commons Search• Google Images (labeled for reuse)• Your own Digital Camera• Scan photographs or artifacts

Images Scanned and Sized

• When searching Google images, select only the Large or Extra Large images(Size: Larger than 640x480) • Scanning from a book use 200

DPI.

Step 8: Add Music

• Choose music that evokes the rhythm and pace of your story.• Next, go out and grab the music in digital form:

– http://freeplaymusic.com – Pod Safe Audio: http://www.podsafeaudio.com/ – Jamendo http://www.jamendo.com/en/ (Free music downloads in

MP3)– http://creativecommons.org/legalmusicforvideos/ - Creative

Commons– Yahoo Music: http://new.music.yahoo.com/ – http://www.archive.org/details/netlabels - Archive.org’s NetLabel

• Find a talented friend to play an original work on the piano or by strumming the guitar -- solves the copyright problem.

• Garage Band & Myna – create your own with loops

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 9: Edit Your Story (with video editing program)

• Import all images, video, your voice-over, and musical elements

• Lay your narration track onto the timeline first• Add your images to match your narration• Create an initial rough cut before adding transitions or

special effects• Add titles, transitions, special effects sparingly• Expect to spend a few hours editing your story to get it

just right. Don't overproduce: often the spontaneity and directness of the initial drafts get lost with too much polishing.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Websites to Share Video

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ TeacherTube: http://teachertube.com/ SchoolTube: http://schooltube.com/

• Blip.tv: http://blip.tv Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/

• Facebook video• Google Docs

Online Storage

• You can also choose an online file storage system, such as the one that Ed uses: Microsoft Windows Live Sky Drive: http://skydrive.live.com

• The advantage of this system is that you can store up to 25 GB of all types of files, and you can password-protect your files.

• I also like http://www.divshare.com/ to store files online, because they give you the code to embed your video into a blog or website (just like the video sharing sites). They let you store up to 5 GB of files.

My Final Wish…

May all yourelectronic portfolios include

dynamic celebrations and stories of deep learning

across the lifespan.

Thank You!

DR. HELEN BARRETT

Researcher & ConsultantElectronic Portfolios & Digital Storytelling for Lifelong and Life Wide Learning

Founding FacultyREAL* ePortfolio Academy for K-12 Teachers*Reflection, Engagement, Assessment for Learning

eportfolios@gmail.comhttp://electronicportfolios.org/Twitter: @eportfolioshttp://slideshare.net/eportfolios